THE ANTARCTIC WOLF 



505 



America. This animal is considerably smaller than the common wolf, from which 

 it is also distinguished by its thicker and longer fur and more bushy tail. On ac- 

 count of this greater length of the fur, the coyote appears to be a thicker-built and 

 shorter-legged animal than it really is. The color varies considerably at different 

 seasons of the year, being of a bright, fulvous brown in summer, and gray or gray- 

 ish in winter ; this ground color at both seasons being overlaid with a shading of 

 black, which tends to form stripes along the back and across the shoulders and 

 loins. The under parts are of a dirty white tint ; while the upper portions of the 

 muzzle, and the outsides of the ears and legs, are generally tawny. The coyote 

 ranges from the south of Costa Rica, in Central America, to the lower portions of 

 Hudson's Bay. It is still abundant in Texas and Northern Mexico, but is rare in 

 Guatemala ; and it has been suggested that it is but a comparatively recent immi- 

 grant into Central America. 



The coyote is more generally in the habit of burrowing in the ground than the 

 common wolf ; it is also far less savage and destructive, and becomes more docile and 

 gentle in captivity. Like the common wolf, it will, on occasions, hunt in packs ; and 

 it is at least as noisy an animal, although the tone of its howl is quite different. As 

 regards food, it appears to be almost omnivorous ; and, when an animal diet is un- 

 attainable, it will feed upon juniper- berries, or the prickly pear. Rabbits, rats, 

 young birds, etc., form, however, its staple diet ; and it does not appear that it ever 

 attacks the larger Mammals, although, when wounded and brought to bay, it will 

 defend itself fiercely. In speed it is far inferior to the wolf, and it can be readily 

 overtaken by a good horse. The cubs are born in May and June ; the number in a 

 litter usually being five or six, but occasionally ten. 



THE ANTARCTIC WOLF (Cam's antarcticus) 



Seeing that no true wolf is found in continental South America, it is strange to 

 meet with a small species, apparently nearly allied to the coyote, inhabiting the 

 Falkland islands. The antarctic wolf is rather smaller than the larger individuals 

 of the coyote, and has shorter fur and a less bushy tail. The general color is yellow- 

 ish mingled with black, the individual hairs being yellow at the base, with black 

 tips ; the fur of the under parts is whitish. White is also the color of the fur on the 

 lips, chin, and throat, as well as on the inner margins of the ears. The most char- 

 acteristic coloration is, however, that of the tail, in which the first two-fifths are of 

 the same hue as the body, the next two-fifths black, and the remainder white. 



The antarctic wolf was discovered by Pernety during his voyage in the years 

 1763 and 1764, and was again observed by Commodore Byron of H.M.S. Dolphin, 

 who circumnavigated the world in 1767. Darwin, who saw them during the voyage 

 of the Beagle, writes that "these wolves are well known from Byron's account of 

 their tameness and curiosity, which the sailors, who ran into the water to avoid 

 them, mistook for fierceness. To this day, their manners remain the same. They 

 have been observed to enter a tent and actually pull some meat from beneath the 

 head of a sleeping seaman. The Guachos also have frequently in the evening killed 



